Problems & repairs
Can you plaster over damp walls?
Quick answer
No — you shouldn't plaster over active damp. The plaster will blow, stain and fail again because the moisture is still there. The cause needs to be dealt with first, then the affected plaster removed and the wall re-plastered with suitable materials. We'll advise honestly on what's needed.
In more detail
Plastering over a damp wall is a false economy. Until the source of moisture is resolved, the damp keeps coming through and pushes the new plaster off — you're back to square one, often within months.
The right approach is to identify and fix the cause (a leak, penetrating or rising damp), remove the blown plaster back to a sound background, and then re-plaster using materials suited to the situation, including breathable lime where appropriate.
We'll always tell you if something needs fixing first rather than take a job that won't last.
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